Should You Apply Conditioner to Dry Hair?

The short answer: you can, but it won’t do much. Using hair conditioners works wonders for dried out and damaged hair, but it won’t work as well when using conditioner on dry hair. This is because all types of conditioners are designed to be applied to wet hair. If you suffer from hair breakage and heat damage, or if your hair is dried out from hopping on the changing your hair color trend then there are many things you can do to replenish moisture and achieve healthy hair. However, the key is to apply these products correctly so that they can properly do their job. Once you begin to use the right conditioner for your hair consistently and correctly, you’ll achieve a much better hair feel, and it will promote healthy hair growth as well! 

You shouldn’t really use conditioner on dry hair because it may do more harm than good in the long run. One of the biggest problems that occur when you apply conditioner to your hair while dry is that it doesn’t penetrate the hair strand correctly and as a result, most of it will sit on the outer layer. This will cause your hair to look greasy as if you have extremely oily hair. This causes product buildup on your hair which is terrible for your scalp, and one of the best hair tips for getting healthy, strong hair is to have proper scalp care.

Bottom line: you shouldn’t be applying conditioner to dry hair. Your hair won’t be able to receive the benefits of hair conditioner and you’ll be left with oily, dull hair, and a damaged scalp.

How to Use Hair Conditioner? 

A hair conditioner should be a staple in your regular hair care routine. The benefits of hair conditioner can revitalize your hair completely, helping you achieve your hair’s full potential no matter if you have frizzy hair, fine hair, curly hair, oily hair, or damaged hair. It works wonders when used correctly. 

But how exactly should you be using your hair conditioner? 

First of all, you shouldn’t be applying your conditioner when your hair is dry. Instead, you can apply it either before or after shampooing (this is the more commonly used application), just make sure that your hair is wet before application. This will make sure that the product penetrates into the hair shaft properly and that way you can reap all of the benefits of conditioning your hair. 

It’s key to use both shampoo and conditioner when you wash your hair because the shampoo is used for deep cleaning and removing buildup while hair conditioner is used for moisturizing and protecting from damage. It’s also important to make sure that you’re using the right amount of conditioner, using too little might not do the trick depending on how much hair and how damaged or dry it is while using too much can add excess moisture to your hair and can cause it to become oilier than usual. The right amount to use is roughly the size of a quarter, but if you have thinner hair then it’s recommended to use a little less.

Apply the conditioner to the tips of your hair, not to your scalp. Then, you can either use your fingers or you can use a wide-tooth comb to spread out the conditioner thoroughly and evenly to the ends of your hair. Make sure to leave it on for a few minutes, and if you feel like you need a little extra moisture then you can try leaving the conditioner on for a few hours or even overnight! The most important thing is to rinse it off very well afterward in order to avoid product buildup.

Can dry hair be conditioned? 

Let’s clarify: if you have dry hair in the sense that because either your natural hair type is dry, or maybe because it is missing moisture and hydration because you have color-treated hair or chemically treated hair, then yes! If this description fits you then you are definitely in need of a good conditioner that will replenish moisture and help you achieve shiny and healthy hair. However, if you mean “dry hair” in the sense that it is hair that is not wet, then it’s not recommended to condition hair while it is not wet. This is because of the way that conditioner is formulated, it is meant to be applied to wet hair in order to work correctly. While applying conditioner to physically dry hair will not cause any damage to it, it won’t work as well and you won’t achieve the results you’re looking for. 

The main issue with applying conditioner or deep conditioner to dry hair is that it will cause your hair to become extremely oily due to the product buildup. While you want to add moisture and get rid of your dry split ends, you don’t want your roots to become greasy and look like you’re on day five of not washing your hair as a result. 

The misconception that conditioning your hair while dry is based on the fact that dry hair has a negative charge while conditioners have a positive charge, which leads one to think that it will penetrate hair strands better. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that conditioner is designed to be applied to wet hair in order to work properly. While the negative and positive charges are compatible, the makeup of the product will not work allow it to work properly under these circumstances. 

How to choose the right conditioner for your hair? 

There’s a product out there for every single type of hair, whether you’re concerned about your hair’s texture, the level of damage you have, or specific concerns like having frizzy hair or colored hair. First, it’s important to decipher what kind of hair you have, so begin by asking yourself the following questions:

Is your hair dry, normal, or oily?

Do you have thin hair or is it on the thicker side?

Have you treated your hair with chemicals to straighten it or is it color-treated? Is it both?

Do you constantly use hot tools on your hair without using heat protection?

What is your hair texture like? Curly, straight, or wavy?

Once you figure out your hair type and concerns, it will be easier to find the perfect hair conditioner for you. Usually, hair products and conditioners will have different formulas designed for each type of hair type or concern, and it will usually say it on the label. However, sometimes one formula can solve a variety of different problems and work well with most hair types. These can work just as well as those that are specifically designed for certain types of hair.

If you don’t have specific hair concerns and are just looking for a conditioner that will hydrate and nourish your hair, we recommend using one that says “for all hair types”, like AYAM’s Dead Sea Minerals Original Conditioner. If your hair is damaged (either from color or from chemical treatments) and dry, then you should try those that are designed for restoring your hair and replenishing moisture, like AYAM’s Dead Sea Minerals + Caviar Extract Conditioner. If your hair is on the oily side, then you need a conditioner that will add hydration without making it oilier, like AYAM’s Dead Sea Minerals + Argan Oil Conditioner.